By Tyler Wright
The Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) has received a donation of over 1,000 cans for those less fortunate during winter from a local church.
DRERS CEO Tania Bevan said the Belgrave South Baptist Church made the donation as part of an annual event, with 1386 cans provided by church members.
“The cans go to any of the people who come to us for assistance with food. This is anyone in our community who is struggling with the cost of living. Many reasons for this are being on a fixed low income such as Centrelink, or low wages, or being under employed. Some even have no income whatsoever, such as people who have lost jobs through redundancy and are waiting for Centrelink benefits,” Ms Bevan said.
“There are also people experiencing homelessness, family violence, lack of social support in times of need and many other reasons. We are now also assisting people who are working but are not able to make ends meet because of the cost of living. This is a new cohort of people we are assisting compared to previous years.”
Canned goods include soup, baked beans and spaghetti, and healthier options like vegetables, beans, chickpeas and lentils for people to create meals with not much else in their kitchen cupboard, Ms Bevan said.
“The cans really make a difference to people who have run out of money for food and need a few meals to get through until their next pay. They also make a difference to people who are homeless, as they can easily heat foods such as canned soup,” she said.
“The church ensures that amongst the cans donated there are rip-top cans that suit people who are homeless and do not carry can openers with them. We appreciate their generosity and thoughtfulness.”
The can donation run occurs every May.
Belgrave South Baptist Church pastor Julian Holdsworth said the church wants to help those who “may be doing it tough in the Hills”.
“DRERS are the professionals in that field,” he said.
DRERS collects donations of tea, coffee, breakfast cereal and household equipment from the baptist church every week for the whole year.
